Overhead window balance



Nov. 4, 1969 E. H. wooD 3,475,864

OVERHEAD wINDow BALANCE F'ned Jan. 22, 196e i nu-I Arma/551 UnitedStates Patent O 3,475,864 OVERHEAD WINDOW BALANCE Edward H. Wood,Sanford, N.C., assignor to D. J. Dinsmore Company, Sioux Falls, S. Dak.,a corporation of South Dakota Filed Jan. 22, 1968, Ser. No. 699,591 Int.Cl. E05d 13/12 U.S. Cl. 49-445 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Anoverhead Window balance unit in which a plurality of individual balanceassemblies are mounted in a sideby-side relationship for connection withsingle or doublehung sash to Ibias the same. The individual balanceassemblies are identical in construction and are anchored in guideblocks mounted in the window balance unit with the guide blocksincluding provisions for journaling the sash cord pulley system and todirect the sash cord out of the assembly. The individual `balanceassemblies incorporate coil springs which permit increased spring lengthand spring size for greater spring rate and larger or longer sash cordswith an increase in size of the window balance unit.

My invention relates to a window balance assembly and more particularlyto an improved window balance assembly designed for overheadinstallation in a window frame to be used with single or double-hungwindows.

Window balance units for vertically slidable sash in conventional singleand double-hung windows are known and in use. The majority of suchassemblies are mounted in the side of window frames on a jamb surfaceupon which the sash slides for biasing the same. Such a positioningincreases the overall width of the window construction in that thebalance assembly occupies space adjacent the sash in this direction toincrease the overall width of a window construction. Such installationsrequire special window constructions and special mountings for thebalance assembly. Overhead balance assemblies have been utilized in thepast with spiral-type spring systems and tape-type `sash cord. However,such application is limited because of the limitation of the bias rateof the spring. With the advent of removable-type sash, the prioroverhead balance systems are inapplicable since they require permanentmounting on the sash. Further, the particular types of balance systemsare limited in application to particular window sizes in order toprovide the desired balance or biasing force.

The present invention is directed to an improved balance assembly of theoverhead type which is applicable for single and double-hung windowswith removable sash. This improved balance assembly incorporatesseparate balance units positioned in a side-by-side relationship in anoverall mounting structure with conventional cord type connectionslbetween the springs and the sash which are readily removable. Theimproved overhead Window balance permits the -use of larger springs withgreater width sash to provide proper 'biasing for the same. In addition,the improved balance assembly incorporates guide blocks in the ends ofthe same which mount the springs for the individual 'balance units and apart of the pulley system for the same with means for directing the sashcord from t-he bottom of the balance down the sides of the window frameand in appropriate grooves in jamb structures to connect to the sash.The overall arrangement of the improved window balance assembly providesa simplied structure which is readily attachable and removable from thesash for the purpose of removing the sash.

3,475,864 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 Therefore, it is the principal object ofthis invention to provide an improved window balance assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a window lbalanceassembly a mounting for a plurality of balance units useable for singleand double-hung windows.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a windowbalance assembly a simplified structure to guide a sash cord in adesired direction with a minimum of frictional force supplied thereto.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved windowbalance assembly which takes up a minimum of space in the windowconstruction.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedwindow balance assembly which may be useable with conventional sash andwindow constructions, and which will permit larger-sized springs forgreater sash size.

Another object of this invention is to provide a simplified windowbalance assembly which is easy to manufacture and install and use.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from areading of the attached description together with the drawings wherein:

IFIGURE 1 is a plan view of a window construction using the improvedwindow balance assembly of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of the window construction of FIGURE 1taken along the lines 2-2 therein and showing the improved overheadwindow balance,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the window construction of FIGURE 1taken along the lines 3--3 therein showing the improved overhead windowbalance from the `bottom view, and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the improved windowbalance showing the guide blocks of the same.

My improved window balance assembly is shown in application in FIGURE 1as applied to a conventional double-hung window frame indicatedgenerally at 10. The window frame 12 and associated sash 14 may be of aconventional wood construction and the improved balance assembly isshown mounted in the head or upper edge of the frame indicated at 20.This improved window balance assembly provides an arrangement for aplurality of sash cords 30, 31, 32 and 33 which extend from oppositeextremities of the balance assembly and connect to sides of a sash in aconventional manner. The window frame includes la suitable jambstructure, such as indicated at 35 along the sides of the same for thepurpose of guiding and mounting the sash and have appropriate grooves(not shown) therein in which the sash cord extends from the windowbalance to connect to the respective sash at the side edges of the same.

The details of the improved window balance assembly are shown in FIGURE2, 3 and 4 with the balance assembly being mounted in an elongatedchannel-shaped frame or housing 40 which is generally U-shaped in crosssection and open at the top extremity and at the ends thereof. In thepresent disclosure for a double-hung window, four independent balanceunits are shown, and it will be understood that this number may beappropriately decreased for a single-hung window. Each balance unit isidentical in construction and comprises a coil spring 45 and a cablesystem including the sash cord and the cable block indicated at 46 withthe assembly being connected between a pair of guide blocks 50, 51mounted in the ends of the frame or channel member 40. Suitableapertures 54 are positioned in the frame member adjacent the guideblocks 50, 51 for the purpose of directing the sash cord 30-33therethrough. In addition, apertures are provided in the frame memberwhich aligns with apertures or recesses 55 in the guide blocks 50, 51through which suitable rivets or other similar securing means 60 may bepositioned to secure the guide blocks therein.

As will be seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, the guide blocks 50, 51, which 'areidentical in construction, have machined surfaces thereon to provide aplurality of pegs 62 or posts which extend normal to the extent of theguide blocks and serve as securing posts or mounting posts for pulleys,as will be hereinafter dened. In addition, one end or edge of the guideblocks is recessed as at 65 and includes a pair of posts 66 therein uponwhich are mounted pulleys 68 to direct the sash cord away from the guideblocks and through the apertures 54 in the channel member as will behereinafter noted. As will be seen in FIGURE 4, the posts 62 along oneedge of the guide blocks serves alternately as anchoring posts for thespring 45 of each of the balance units and mounting posts for journalingpulleys 70, 71 of the cable system for the balance unit. It will benoted that adjacent balance units are directed in opposite directions,that is the spring will be connected to a guide block at one extremitywhile the appropriate pulley systems for the same will be positioned onthe opposite guide block at the other extremity of the channel rnemberwith the next adjacent unit having a reverse in the location of theanchoring posts for the spring and the journaling posts for the pulleys70, 71 of the cable systems. As will be further noted in FIGURE 4, eachguide block includes in addition a pair of posts 78, 79 positionedcentrally thereon with the area around the same recessed, as at 80, toprovide for mounting pulley members 82, 83 thereon which guide therespective sash cords away from the balance assemblies and to therespective pulleys 68 on the post 66 in the ends of the guide block. Forthe purpose of providing clearance between the sash cords as they aredirected away from the guide blocks, one of the posts 78 is slightlyinclined and is recessed to a greater depth than the corresponding posts79 with the pulley 83 on the opposite side of the guide block for thepurpose of separating the sash cords and directing them across therespective pulleys 68 on the edge of the guide blocks. The pulley blocks46 may take varying forms and will gener ally include a plurality ofpulleys 85 with an anchoring post 86 to which is connected the extremityof the sash cord and with an appropriate portion 88 on the oppositeextremity of the same to which the extremity of the spring 45 isconnected. Each balance unit is identical in construction and providesfor extension of the spring as the respective sash cord connected to theassociated pulley block is extended through one of the apertures 54 inthe channel member 40.

The improved window balance construction permits the use of conventionalcoil springs and the greater the width of the sash and hence weight tobe balanced, the longer the extent of the channel member for the windowbalance unit permitting a larger-sized spring and a longer cable system,if needed. Thus, the improved window balance assembly may be enlarged tofit a desired window opening across the top or head of the same and theindividual balance assembly will have suicient dimension and space for aparticular spring size to properly bias the respective edge of the sashto which it is to be connected. The adjacent pairs of balance assemblieson one side of the frame member 40 will be connected to one sash and toopposite edges of the sarne with the respective sash cords beingdirected over the guide blocks at opposite extremities of the channelmember and toward the opposite edge of the frame or channel member toprovide for direction of the sash cord in a manner so as not to causebinding of the same.

Thus, as will be seen in FIGURE 4, the balance unit incorporating thesash cord 32 will be directed across the pulleys 70 and 82 to bedirected out of the guide block on the side opposite to which it islocated. The symmetrical arrangement of the guide blocks in oppositeends of the channel member will provide for the same function andapparatus at this point to cause the sash cord asso ciated therewith tobe directed in a similar manner. The individual guide blocks arepreferably made of a plastic material to provide for ease in machiningof the posts and recessed surfaces thereon and preferably include ametal cover, such as is indicated at 90, with suitable apertures 92therein to lit over the ends of the posts 62, 66, 78 and 79 to securethe same thereon. Suitable apertures are provided therein through whichthe rivets 60 extend to secure the guide blocks in the channel member.The actual cable system and the shape or detail of the pulley block 46may vary in form within the scope of the present invention, but theimproved window balance assembly permits the mounting of a plurality ofindividual balance units in a side-by-side relationship and in a singleframe member for an overhead installation to be connected to the windowsash for balancing the same. As the sash cords 30-32, are pulled out ofthe frame member, the associated springs are extended or tensioned toapply a bias force to the same. The individual sash cords include hookmembers on the ends of the same by means of which they may be connectedto the individual sash of a single or double-hung window in any desiredmanner. The location of the sash cords will normally be positioned inthe frame member so as to be directed down or within a jamb surfaceguiding the respective sash for connection thereto. As indicated inFIGURES 2 and 3, the frame member 40 will normally extend beyond theguide block such as to completely till a window opening and suitablemounting apertures are positioned therein by means of which the channelmember or window balance unit may be secured on the window frame forinstallation purposes. The width of the channel member will increasewith size of the sash and thickness of the same as well as the lengthand the frame member will normally be of such a width dimension as tosubstantially ll the head of the window frame above the jamb surfacesand against the stops. Thus, for large-sized windows, both the width andlength dimensions of the frame member will be increased permitting theuse of larger-sized springs and pulley systems for greater effectivesash cord length and larger bias forces to counterbalance the increasedsash weight.

Therefore, in considering this invention, it should be remembered thatthe present disclosure is intended to be illustrative only and the scopeof the invention may be determined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A balance assembly adapted to be positioned in the head of a windowframe and supported therein above side jambs for a window to connect tothe window sash for balancing the same comprising, an elongated framemember, said frame member having apertures near the ends thereof to passthe sash cord from the balance assembly therethrough, a guide blockmounted on each end of the frame member on one surface thereof adjacentthe apertures therein, a plurality of spring-balance units having aspring which is secured at one extremity to a guide block at one end ofthe frame member and with a sash cord connected to the free end of thespring and over roller members included in the guide block at theopposite extremity of the frame member to that which the associatedspring is anchored, said guide blocks including transversely directingguide surfaces for guiding the sash cord through one of the apertures inthe end of the frame member normal to the extent of the spring and theframe member, and clip means secured to the end of the sash cord andadapted to releasably connect to a sash to balance the same.

2. The balance assembly of claim 1 in which the frame member is a tlatchannel-shaped construction of a metallic material adapted to bepositioned in the head of the window frame and having length dimensionssubstantially equal to the length of the window opening therein and awidth dimension substantially equal to the Width of the side jambsupporting the sash therein.

3. The balance assembly of claim 2 in which the frame member is open atthe upper extremity and at the ends thereof.

4. The balance assembly of claim 3 in which each guide block includes aplurality of journaled rollers and anchoring posts and includingtransversely extending guide posts to direct the sash cord through thebottom of the frame member.

5. The balance assembly of claim 4 in which the frame member houses fourspring-balance units in a side-by-side relationship with alternate unitsextending in opposite directions to opposite ends of the frame member.

`6. The balance assembly of claim 4 in which the frame member houses atleast two spring-balance units positioned in a side-by-side relationshipand anchored in guide blocks at opposite extremities of the frame memberwith sash cords being directed therefrom through the respective guideblocks at opposite ends of the frame member.

7. The balance assembly of claim 4 and in which each spring-balance unitis comprised of an elongated coilwound spring anchored Iat one extremityto the guide blocks and mounting at its other extremity a floatingpulley block with the sash cord being secured to the pulley block andwound around rollers in the guide block at the other extremity of thechannel member and through pulleys in the oating block with theextremity of the sash cord being directed over roller guides whichchange the direction of the sash cord and guide it out of the aperturesin the frame member.

8. The balance assembly of claim 7 in which each guide guide blocks andin which the plurality of spring-balance units are positioned inlocation extending between the guide blocks substantially filling theinner surface of the frame member with the alternate balance assembliesbeing directed in opposite directions such that the sash cords will beguided over guide blocks at the opposite extremities of the frame memberto direct the sash cords therefrom through opposite sides of the sash.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 842,701 1/ 1907 Reiland 49-445931,007 8/ 1909 Craig 49-445 2,190,097 2/ 1940 Dautrick 49-445 X2,774,119 12/ 1956 Osten 49-445 X 2,843,887 7/1958 Hederus 49-453 X3,055,044 9/ 1962 Dinsmore 49-445 X 3,358,404 12/ 1967 Dinsmore 49--446REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner

